I I - American Memory

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Mary Green came by it; and it muft of ncceffity haVe
fceen given either by the Maid or himfelf, fmce there
was no third Perfon in the Room to do it.
I earneftly prefled upon him to glorify God by a plain
Confeffion of his Crime, and urg'd to him the moft ma-
terial Circumftances; telling him, he could not pretend
that his Matter or Miflrefs, who gave him the Chara-
fler of a good Servant, had any Prejildice or ill Will
to him ; and he faid he neither refledled on them, noi'
any of the Witnefles, as if they had any View in pro-
fecuting him, but that Juftice might be executed, t
urg'd him with the Surgeon's Opinion, that it was im'^
probable, if not impoffible, for the Maid to give heS'*
felf fuch a Wound j that fhe had nto Knife in the Cel-
lar ; that in the firll Trial three Perfons had fworn that
he was rude and barbarous to the Deceafed upon many
Occafions, and upon that Account fhe made grievous
Complaints of him to her Mother and others.
At firft indeed he feem'd to be in Confufion at the
many preffing Inftances which were made to induce a
Confeilion from him $ but reCoUefting himfelf, he de-'
ny'd that he gave the mortal Wound, and faid, That
he knenv nothing at all hoiv Jhe came by her Death, nu
more than the Child that's unborn. He faid that the
Deceafed was a very ill-natur'd Girl, that fhe fwore and
curfed often, and he did not deny but he had flruck her
fometimes, as was given in Evidence againft him, but
that he did not do her any Harm ; and after all that
could be faid, he ftill perfifted obftinate in denying the
Faft. He faid that when he was young he was not
difobedient to hh Parents, who were very careful in
giving him good-Education ; but that in other Refpefts.
lie had led a very wicked Life, in breaking the Lord's
Day, and neglefting his Duty to Almighty God, who
therefore had now juftly forfaken him : He appear'd
not to be of an ill Temper, but a civil Fello\v, and
abundantly knowing in religious Matters for one of hh
Station. Many of his Friends and Acquaintances came
daily to vifit him while he was under Sentence, and I
F 2 wifh